Storm safety
Before the storm
- Know where your main breaker disconnect is.
- Unplug sensitive electrical equipment.
- Make sure your cell phone is fully charged.
- Secure items that could become airborne and strike a power line (flags, grill covers, etc.)
- Inspect any alternative energy sources such as generators to make sure they work and are safe.
- Have your healthcare provider notify Alliant Energy if you or someone in your household relies on lifesaving medical equipment. We advise all customers to have an alternate plan, power source and equipment option in the event of power outages or unforeseen circumstances.
- Designate a safe location in your home to wait for the storm to pass. Make sure your family knows where this location is.
- Sign up for My Account to receive outage alerts by text, email or phone.
- Assemble a storm safety kit and have it ready in a secure location in your home. Watch the video below for some tips and tricks.
During the storm
- Your smart meter notifies us of the outage, so you don't have to.
- Don't use candles for lighting. The risk of fire is too great. Use flashlights instead.
- Unplug as many appliances as possible. This will prevent damage from a power surge when power is restored.
- Go to your designated safe location when you receive a storm warning or during severe weather.
After the storm
- Call 1-800-ALLIANT (800-255-4268) if you see a low-hanging or downed power line. We’ll send a crew to help. You can also report any outages and see up-to-date restoration information in our Outage Center at alliantenergy.com/outage.
- Stay away from low-hanging or downed power lines, and don’t allow anyone to touch or drive over a downed power line. Keep other people, children and pets away from downed lines. Always assume a low-hanging or downed line is dangerous, even if it’s not jumping or sparking.
- If you see a downed wire on a fence, do not touch the fence. It could be energized and dangerous.
- When trimming trees, be sure to wear proper safety gear and follow proper safety protocols. Do not attempt to remove tree debris that is in contact with a power line.
- Stay off the roads if possible to keep roads clear for first responders and restoration workers.
- Never use a portable generator inside a home, garage, crawl space, or any other enclosed spaces. The exhaust fumes can be very dangerous when enclosed.
- If you are using a generator, make sure you shut off your main disconnect so it does not backfeed into the system. This can injure technicians working on downed lines.
- Be wary of criminals impersonating electric company employees. Scammers are opportunistic and will use storms and other disasters to target electric customers. Electric companies do not require payment to restore electricity after a natural disaster or other outage.
- For longer outages, here are some tips from the FDA for keeping your food safe while we work to restore power. Customers eligible for food benefits may receive additional funds for extended outages in Iowa or Wisconsin.
- If you have unplugged appliances, it's safe to plug them back in once power has been restored. Plug them in one by one to avoid overloading a circuit.
Do you need an electrician?
By law, we can only repair the incoming service line and your meter. Depending on where damage is located, you may need to contact a licensed electrician for additional repairs.
Don't do it yourself! Leave all work to trained and licensed electricians.
Hiring an electrician
Unfortunately, the worst disasters attract some people who are looking for a financial gain from others' loss. Most reputable contractors will not solicit you to repair damage to your home or business. It's best to be careful when choosing who will do the work for you.
- Use the local phone book or Alliant Energy's Dealer Locator to find a reputable contractor or electrician to repair damage.
- Always make sure that the workers are fully insured and licensed by your community or state.
- Be sure that they file for and provide the proper permits, if necessary, before making a down payment for the work.
- Never pay for the entire cost of the work before it is done.
- Ask for local references, and check them before making a down payment.
Flood safety
Before a flood
- Unplug electric appliances if they are expected to be underwater.
- Individually shut off the valves to gas appliances if they are expected to be underwater.
Stay safe
- Never walk through a flooded home or building until gas and electric service are disconnected.
- Never handle electric appliances or other electric equipment, such as a circuit breaker, with wet hands or while standing on a wet surface. Water and electricity can be a deadly combination.
- Avoid walking in flooded backyards if water is touching utility equipment like ground-mounted transformers.
- Make sure generators used for water removal are outside and vented properly. Keep their power cords out of water.
- Report emergencies like downed power lines, natural gas leaks, carbon monoxide alarms and others to us at 1-800-ALLIANT (800-255-4268).
What to do if your service is affected by flooding
- Call us at 1-800-ALLIANT (800-255-4268) to have electric and/or natural gas service disconnected if there is standing water in your property. We do not charge to disconnect or reconnect service due to flooding.
- Standing water can snuff out pilot lights on hot water heaters and furnaces. If this occurs, natural gas may collect in your home, creating the risk of an explosion.
- Even a small amount of water on the floor of your basement can put you at risk for electrocution.
How to get service reconnected
- Have a licensed electrician inspect your electrical system before calling to be reconnected. Electric meter sockets that were submerged must be replaced.
- Have a licensed heating or appliance service and repair contractor inspect your natural gas appliances before calling to be reconnected. Gas appliance manufacturers recommend appliance parts that have been underwater be replaced.
- Depending upon your local building code requirements, you may need to call your local government building inspector and ask that they inspect your home’s electrical system if water has entered it.